An Update By Councillor Max Mitchell

An Update From Councillor Max Mitchell

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas break, which feels like a lifetime ago now, and what a time it’s been in the news… As usual, I’ll be focussing on the Council!

Council Budgets

There has been some development over the Scottish Government’s settlement with councils. It was previously found that councils across Scotland would be seeing a real terms cut of £371m. This was despite the Scottish Government receiving its largest ever block grant from Westminster. COSLA, Council Leaders, MPs and MSPs across Scotland expressed enormous concern. More money has been ‘found’ by Kate Forbes, which will now see cuts to the tune of £251m. Be in no doubt that these cuts are serious and pose significant threats to core and front-line services – school budgets, roads and pavements maintenance, upkeeping parks, social care, anything the Council does. I regret to say that the likelihood is Council Tax being increased. Edinburgh deserves better and fairer funding.

Communal Bin Review (cont.)

The Communal Bin Review has raged on. Those in Comely Bank/Learmonth and Inverleith may already be aware that the statutory process was done prior to Christmas. There is a desire to improve recycling and bin collections, but the review’s proposals aren’t appealing or reassuring to the majority of those in touch with me. Indeed, a resident survey by the Edinburgh Central MSP had over 400 responses with 90% against the hubs.

Concerns focus on the hubs attracting fly-tipping, lack of consultation, the number of bins (six per hub every 100 metres), and the implications for residents’ amenity. Comely Bank/ Learmonth residents have been alarmed by reduction of nearly 100 parking spaces in an already busy area. The proposals for Stockbridge, Canonmills and New Town are still not known.

Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH), Historic Environment Scotland and The Cockburn Association remain concerned about the impact of the bin hubs. The only mitigation method the Council seems to be accepting, so far, is changing the colour of bin lids. EWH looked at each street with proposals such as placing bins amongst cars, against gable ends, in lanes, against railings or generally away from homes – all not accepted, amongst others.

I would like to see an efficient waste collection system and cleaner streets (what resident wouldn’t?), but I am not yet fully convinced that the hubs will be the silver bullet to help achieve these outcomes. Ultimately, this is a way for the Council to save money, which is why the parties in control of the Council are continuing.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Inverleith Ward councillor Max Mitchell by email, max.mitchell@edinburgh.gov.uk, or by phone on 0131 529 4409, with any local issues or questions.